MetaFilter posts tagged with Space and spaceflighthttp://www.metafilter.com/tags/Space+spaceflight
Posts tagged with 'Space' and 'spaceflight' at MetaFilter.Sun, 27 Nov 2016 05:55:00 -0800Sun, 27 Nov 2016 05:55:00 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60Ride the tides of Titan!http://www.metafilter.com/163630/Ride%2Dthe%2Dtides%2Dof%2DTitan
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/lets-colonize-titan/">"Saturn's largest moon might be the only place beyond Earth where humans could live"</a> Charles Wohlforth and Amanda R. Hendrix urge some of us to consider becoming Titanians. (<a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13048652">via</a>) <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/147473/Titan-awash-in-oceans-of-liquid-methane-and-full-of-azotosomes">P</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/59490/Titanic-Pirates-of-Methane-Seas">r</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/146112/We-said-this-is-something-strange-and-we-need-your-telescope-badly">e</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/140375/Tax-dollars-hard-at-work-around-Saturn">v</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/123878/Landing-on-Titan-now-in-full-color">i</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/107544/Fly-me-to-the-moons-of-Saturn">o</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/98667/Volcanos-on-Titan-and-Oceans-on-Pluto">u</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/92547/Hey-Whos-been-eating-my-hydrogen">s</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/87605/Visit-Scenic-Titan">l</a><a href="http://www.metafilter.com/69063/AKA-The-Creature-1985">y</a>.
<a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/visions-of-the-future/images/titan.jpg">Source of post title</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.163630Sun, 27 Nov 2016 05:55:00 -0800doctornemo6.25 gigabytes from 3 billion miles awayhttp://www.metafilter.com/163215/625%2Dgigabytes%2Dfrom%2D3%2Dbillion%2Dmiles%2Daway
<a href="https://www.wired.com/2016/10/15-months-new-horizons-finally-transmitted-6-25-gigs-pluto-data/">How NASA Got Every Last Piece of Pluto Data Down From New Horizons</a> tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.163215Tue, 01 Nov 2016 16:32:37 -0800Brandon BlatcherPainting the Race to Spacehttp://www.metafilter.com/162071/Painting%2Dthe%2DRace%2Dto%2DSpace
Norman Rockwell, Walt Disney, Wernher von Braun, space habitats and moon landings - <a href="https://howwegettonext.com/the-improbable-bold-history-of-space-concept-art-42c1fb1b6035#.j8tg0jywp">the improbable, bold history of space concept art</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.162071Mon, 05 Sep 2016 10:28:53 -0800ArtwSoviet ingenuity at its finest!http://www.metafilter.com/160622/Soviet%2Dingenuity%2Dat%2Dits%2Dfinest
<a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a19966/russia-actually-lights-it-rockets-with-a-giant-match/">Did you know that the Russians ignite Soyuz rockets with giant wooden matches?</a> tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.160622Tue, 28 Jun 2016 10:14:08 -0800Small DollarSpace X nails it againhttp://www.metafilter.com/159986/Space%2DX%2Dnails%2Dit%2Dagain
<a href="http://jalopnik.com/watch-another-unbelievable-spacex-landing-from-the-rock-1779262330">The latest video of a Falcon 9 rocket returning from the upper atmosphere.</a> To be clear, it's just the first stage of the rocket and the video is a time lapse. But this was the most complicated landing yet, as the rocket was launching <a href="http://www.thaicom.net/satellites/future/thaicom8.aspx">a commercial communications satellite</a>, into <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHnhYxOKSoE">geostationary orbit</a>. So the first stage was coming back much faster than before and even SpaceX wasn't sure it could do it. tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.159986Sat, 28 May 2016 08:27:57 -0800Brandon BlatcherThe Curious Link Between the Fly-By Anomaly and the "Impossible" EmDrivehttp://www.metafilter.com/158806/The%2DCurious%2DLink%2DBetween%2Dthe%2DFly%2DBy%2DAnomaly%2Dand%2Dthe%2DImpossible%2DEmDrive
The EmDrive (previously <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/149273/Space-time-and-microwave-ovens">1</a>, <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/141548/NASA-claims-to-have-tested-a-reactionless-space-drive-and-it-works">2</a>) is still getting attention from the scientific community. MIT Technology Review sums it up: <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601299/the-curious-link-between-the-fly-by-anomaly-and-the-impossible-emdrive-thruster/"><em>The Curious Link Between the Fly-By Anomaly and the "Impossible" EmDrive Thruster</em></a> tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.158806Thu, 21 Apr 2016 02:26:33 -0800Harald74The Dragon has landedhttp://www.metafilter.com/158460/The%2DDragon%2Dhas%2Dlanded
Space X has successfully returned the first stage from their Dragon rocket! <a href="https://youtu.be/7pUAydjne5M?t=2154">This is link to the video clip of the landing</a>, here's a link <a href="https://youtu.be/7pUAydjne5M?t=1636">to the launch</a>. It was the eighth mission to the International Space Station for Space X and their fifth attempt to return a first stage back to Earth. This main objective, putting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(spacecraft)">the Dragon Spacecraft</a> into orbit was successful and it'll dock with the ISS on Sunday.
Returning the stage back to Earth is part of a plan to bring the cost of spaceflight down in price, making it more economical. tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.158460Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:09:00 -0800Brandon BlatcherCut it out NASA, you don't have the money or a plan for Marshttp://www.metafilter.com/156860/Cut%2Dit%2Dout%2DNASA%2Dyou%2Ddont%2Dhave%2Dthe%2Dmoney%2Dor%2Da%2Dplan%2Dfor%2DMars
"<a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/2/3/10908408/congress-nasa-journey-to-mars-no-plan-or-money">Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology tore apart NASA's Journey to Mars initiative,</a> claiming the program needs a much more defined plan and clear, achievable milestones to work. Those in attendance <a href="http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/02/space-experts-warn-congress-that-nasas-journey-to-mars-is-illusory/">also doubted the feasibility of a long-term Mars mission</a>; they cited the massive amount of money needed for the trip — much more than NASA currently receives year to year — as well as a significant leap in technological development. Because of these enormous challenges, a few witnesses at the hearing suggested that NASA either rethink its approach or <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/nasa-is-planning-cis-lunar-missions-the-2020s-including-a-moon-landing">divert its attention to a Moon mission instead</a>." tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.156860Fri, 05 Feb 2016 07:52:26 -0800Brandon BlatcherSpace X nails it, except for this one parthttp://www.metafilter.com/156359/Space%2DX%2Dnails%2Dit%2Dexcept%2Dfor%2Dthis%2Done%2Dpart
<a href="http://gizmodo.com/heres-the-behind-the-scenes-story-of-spacexs-rocket-lau-1753482110">On Sunday, Space X launched</a> the <a href="http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/jason3/">JASON-3</a> satellite and also tried to land the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket on a droneship barge. The satellite reached orbit successfully and the first stage landed perfectly. <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/18/463461790/watch-spacex-rocket-explodes-trying-to-land-on-a-barge">That's when a problem latched on to the mission</a> (video in link). According to Elon Musk, head of Space X:
"Falcon lands on droneship, but the lockout collet doesn't latch on one [of] the four legs, causing it to tip over post-landing. [The] root cause may have been ice buildup due to condensation from heavy fog at liftoff." tag:metafilter.com,2016:site.156359Mon, 18 Jan 2016 13:31:17 -0800Brandon BlatcherYou did not go into space that dayhttp://www.metafilter.com/154469/You%2Ddid%2Dnot%2Dgo%2Dinto%2Dspace%2Dthat%2Dday
Remember that Antares rocket that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCWunnJXdm0">blew up</a> shorty after launch in October of 2014? <a href="http://gizmodo.com/nasa-releases-harrowing-new-photos-of-last-year-s-antar-1740741248">NASA just released several startling gorgeous photos of it exploding.</a> Added, vaguely similar bonus: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvSBIYbfMIQ">The Kerbal Space Program version of the failed launch</a> tag:metafilter.com,2015:site.154469Thu, 05 Nov 2015 10:41:30 -0800Brandon BlatcherFly To Space!http://www.metafilter.com/153932/Fly%2DTo%2DSpace
<a href="http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/02/space-race-dogs-monkeys-fruit-flies/">On 20 February 1947, the first animal made it into space aboard a captured Nazi V-2 rocket.</a> That animal was a fruit fly, accompanied by several compatriots from the same species. Their rocket reached an altitude of 108 kilometers and then parachuted safely back to Earth after completing their 3 minute and 10 second mission. All hail Earth's <a href="http://www.doyourownpestcontrol.com/images/fruitfly.jpg">pioneering space travellers</a>! tag:metafilter.com,2015:site.153932Sun, 18 Oct 2015 07:23:09 -0800fairmettleWhat to expect when you're zipping by Plutohttp://www.metafilter.com/150459/What%2Dto%2Dexpect%2Dwhen%2Dyoure%2Dzipping%2Dby%2DPluto
In about a month, on July 14th at roughly 7:50am EST,the <a href="http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/news/pictures/20120210_lg.jpg">New Horizons spacecraft</a> will make humanity's closest approach to Pluto. This will produce the best images we've ever seen of the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/pluto.html">dwarf planet</a>, <a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/weird-orbital-behaviors-offer-clues-origins-plutos-moons-180955490/?no-ist">its odd system</a> and <a href="http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-pluto-moons-study-20150603-story.html">bizarre collection of moons</a>. In anticipation of this historic event, <a href="http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2015/03101637-pluto-image-expectations.html">Emily Lakdawalla of Planetary.org has written a blog post describing exactly what and when to expect photos and other science data from the encounter.</a> Because New Horizons c<a href="http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2015/01300800-talking-to-pluto-is-hard.html">an't communicate with Earth and take photos at the same time</a> (keeping things simple for long deep space travel), we won't be getting any information for the 24 hours surrounding that flyby. We will have some photos and data from Monday June 13, though it won't be high resolution. On Tuesday night, New Horizons will send a short message, taking the 4 and half hours to reach Earth, essentially saying "Survived encounter, will talk to you tomorrow". Then on Thursday and Friday we'll get a series of "First Look" data, along with more data downloads through the weekend pf July 20th. There's pause until September 14, when all the images will be downloaded, but with lossy compression and it'll take 10 weeks to receive all that data. Finally in mid-November, all of the data and images will be downloaded again, but without compression. This'll take about a year.
<a href="http://io9.com/heres-why-the-new-horizons-spacecraft-wont-be-stopping-1710069685">Why isn't New Horizons going to orbit Pluto?</a> Because in order to get there in a reasonable amount of time for us humans, we <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNJNaIoa5Hk">launched</a> the probe at <a href="http://www.spaceanswers.com/solar-system/five-amazing-facts-about-the-new-horizons-probe/">ridiculous speed</a>. We don't have rockets powerful enough to send New Horizons to Pluto in a short amount of time <em>and</em> have enough fuel to slow down enough to achieve orbit. But after zipping by Pluto at 14 miles a second, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Horizons#Kuiper_belt_object_mission">it'll move on to explore the Kuiper belt</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2015:site.150459Sun, 14 Jun 2015 10:11:41 -0800Brandon BlatcherCarpe Atmospherumhttp://www.metafilter.com/149717/Carpe%2DAtmospherum
<a href="http://www.howwegettonext.com/Article/VT-evSgAACorGuP4/how-spaceships-die#.VVjKQ9m9Kc3">How spaceships die</a> tag:metafilter.com,2015:site.149717Sun, 17 May 2015 10:09:29 -0800ArtwLooking out the window, returning to Earthhttp://www.metafilter.com/145538/Looking%2Dout%2Dthe%2Dwindow%2Dreturning%2Dto%2DEarth
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtWzuZ6WZ8E#t=13">This is what it's like to plummet through the atmosphere from space.</a> tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.145538Mon, 22 Dec 2014 08:47:53 -0800Brandon BlatcherThe Cloud Colonies of Venushttp://www.metafilter.com/144786/The%2DCloud%2DColonies%2Dof%2DVenus
While talk of a moonbase or terraforming Mars has tended to dominate the discussion for the first step in human colonization of the solar system, another possibility exists: <a href="http://www.science20.com/robert_inventor/will_we_build_colonies_that_float_over_venus_like_buckminster_fullers_cloud_nine-127573">floating habitats above the cloud tops of Venus</a>. <em>"Our air is a lifting gas on Venus with about half the lifting power of helium on Eath. A habitat filled with normal air will float high in the dense Venus atmosphere, The atmospheric pressure there is the same as Earth sea level (1 bar). Temperatures are perfect for Earth life too, just over 0°C.
Also, just as weather balloons naturally rise to their operating level high in our atmosphere - and don't need to be engineered to hold in high pressures, so it works in the same way for our habitats on Venus. They float at a level where the pressure is equal inside and out, and can be of light construction. It is arguably the most hospitable region for humanity in our solar system, outside of Earth itself."</em> tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.144786Mon, 24 Nov 2014 03:09:22 -0800fairmettleAntares rocket explodes at the Wallops Flight Facilityhttp://www.metafilter.com/144001/Antares%2Drocket%2Dexplodes%2Dat%2Dthe%2DWallops%2DFlight%2DFacility
An Antares rocket with the Orbital Sciences Corporation <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cygnus_CRS_Orb-3">Cygnus CRS Orb-3</a> spacecraft bound for the International Space Station <a href="http://youtu.be/RypXOIr5x3Q">exploded</a> today shortly after liftoff from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. <a href="http://www.cnet.com/news/antares-rocket-carrying-unmanned-cygnus-spacecraft-explodes-at-nasa-launchpad/">Reports</a> are that a first stage engine failed to ignite. Orbital Sciences Corporation has issued a <a href="http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-3/">statement</a> about the mishap. tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.144001Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:28:51 -0800Rob RocketsNASA orders up a couple of space taxishttp://www.metafilter.com/142808/NASA%2Dorders%2Dup%2Da%2Dcouple%2Dof%2Dspace%2Dtaxis
It's official, Boeing's <a href="http://www.boeing.com/boeing/defense-space/space/ccts/index.page">CST-100</a> and Space X's <a href="http://www.spacex.com/dragon">Dragon</a> have been <a href="http://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/boeing-spacex-win-nasa-commercial-crew-award-180952722/?no-ist">chosen to launch astronauts to the International Space Station by 2017</a>, ending Russia's dominance as the sole provider of rides to the ISS, <a href="http://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/the-russian-takeover-of-crimea-once-again-threatens-american-access-to-space/">which they haven't been shy about using for leverage</a>.
Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2014/09/nasa_names_budget_schedule_man.html">develop of the Space Launch System, designed for travel beyond low earth orbit, continues for its maiden launch in 2018</a>. After competition between those two companies and Sierra Nevada's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream_Chaser">Dream Chaser</a>, NASA has awarded 4.2 billion to Boeing and 2.6 billion to Space X to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_Crew_Development">develop, test and fly spacecraft from American soil to the ISS</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.142808Tue, 16 Sep 2014 19:11:07 -0800Brandon BlatcherPsst, Venus. What's up with those holes in your atmosphere?http://www.metafilter.com/142680/Psst%2DVenus%2DWhats%2Dup%2Dwith%2Dthose%2Dholes%2Din%2Dyour%2Datmosphere
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Express">Venus Express</a>, <a href="https://www.metafilter.com/46631/Road-trip-to-venus">ESA's first spacecraft to the planet</a>, has been having a good ol' time <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkjiF7c26mE">skimming the surface at an altitude of 81 miles <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/12690/venus-express-detects-water-vapour-in-low-altitude-clouds/"></a>, <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/110222/rainbow-on-venus-seen-for-first-time/">finding rainbows</a> and <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/nasa-research-helps-unravel-mysteries-of-the-venusian-atmosphere/index.html#.VBMQLPldV8H">investigating those holes in the planet's atmosphere</a>.</a> tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.142680Fri, 12 Sep 2014 08:42:54 -0800Brandon BlatcherBut can it core a apple?http://www.metafilter.com/142157/But%2Dcan%2Dit%2Dcore%2Da%2Dapple
On Thursday, NASA <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/august/nasa-and-commercial-partners-review-summer-of-advancements/#.U_iS0Bb7_Bp">released</a> the names and designs of t<a href="http://www.vox.com/2014/8/23/6056873/commercial-crew-nasa-spacex-boeing">hree vehicles that could replace the space shuttle as means of sending our astronauts into space.</a> <a href="http://www.spacex.com/news/2014/05/30/dragon-v2-spacexs-next-generation-manned-spacecraft">SpaceX's Dragon V2</a> was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEQrmDoIRO8">unveiled</a> in May 2014.
<a href="http://www.beyondearth.com/space-systems/commercial-crew-transportation-system">Boeing's CST-100</a>, released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdQfdKkr46U">last summer.</a>. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVzzHlOCDxk">Drop test.</a>
<a href="http://www.sncspace.com/ss_space_exploration.php">Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPSJLqwljKA&list=UUtwO156POAv4Hnso14OwyMA">Highlights video</a>
Bloomberg News: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0i1pdHJmzM">Star Wars: The Battle to Build the Next Shuttle</a>
This past June, a review of NASA's human spaceflight program concluded that the agency has an <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nrc-human-spaceflight-report-says-nasa-strategy-cant-get-humans-to-mars/2014/06/04/e6e6060c-ebd6-11e3-9f5c-9075d5508f0a_story.html">"unsustainable and unsafe strategy that will prevent the United States from achieving a human landing on Mars in the foreseeable future."</a> tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.142157Sat, 23 Aug 2014 06:35:22 -0800roomthreeseventeenRendezvous with a comethttp://www.metafilter.com/141695/Rendezvous%2Dwith%2Da%2Dcomet
<a href="http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Rosetta_arrives_at_comet_destination">Today at approximately 08:45am GMT</a>, the <a href="http://sci.esa.int/rosetta/47366-fact-sheet/">Rosetta spacecraft</a> entered orbit of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko after a 10 year journey. Now in orbit 100km above the surface, Rosetta is already sending back <a href="http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Highlights/Postcards_from_Rosetta">amazing images</a> of a <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/spacecraft-rosetta-arrives-at-comet-67p-after-decadelong-journey-20140806-100gux.html">rocky, rough</a> <a href="http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/rubber-ducky-space-07172014/">rubber duck</a> shaped comet. Rosetta will now begin a series of orbital passes of the comet, moving closer and closer while selecting a landing site for the Philae Lander. Both Rosetta and Philae will stay with the comet as it approaches the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/rosetta-spacecraft-reaches-comet-67p-churyumov-gerasimenko-1.2728228">inner solar system at 55,000 km/hr, becoming more active.</a>
The arrival prompted an exchange via Twitter with <a href="https://twitter.com/ESA_Rosetta/status/497030376268001280">Captain Kirk</a> about the mission and the planned away team.
A replay of the <a href="http://www.livestream.com/eurospaceagency">livestream</a> of the arrival is available from the ESA.
Rosetta previously (<a href="http://www.metafilter.com/135865/One-small-alarm-for-a-spacecraft-one-giant-mission-for-mankind">1</a>, <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/93724/We-know-you-youll-never-be-just-a-speck-of-light-again">2</a>, <a href="http://www.metafilter.com/59004/Rosetta-Mars-Flyby-Pics">3</a>) on Metafilter tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.141695Wed, 06 Aug 2014 09:28:12 -0800nubsTax dollars hard at work around Saturnhttp://www.metafilter.com/140375/Tax%2Ddollars%2Dhard%2Dat%2Dwork%2Daround%2DSaturn
<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/cassini/10-years-20140625/">Ten years ago</a>, the <a href="http://www.weirdwarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/The-components-of-the-Cassini-spacecraft.jpg">Cassini–Huygens spacecraft</a> became the first to orbit the <a href="http://vimeo.com/33933151">planet Saturn</a>. After <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZC4u0clEc0">dropping off Huygens on the moon Titan</a>, Cassini proceeded to spend its time exploring the Saturn system, <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/04/15/saturn_cassini_may_have_photographed_the_birth_of_a_moon.html">watching the birth of a new moon</a>, <a href="http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/cassinifeatures/10thannivdiscoveries/"> photographing water vents on Enceladus, discovering methane lakes on Titan, spotting hurricanes on Saturn</a>, <a href="http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2003/sep/24/general-relativity-passes-cassini-test">confirming aspects of general relativity</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDNP_GIFuqM">all sorts of other stuff</a>. Enjoy these <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/06/30/cassini_s_10th_anniversary_the_mission_s_greatest_images_of_saturn.html">stunning</a> <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/12/images-of-saturn-from-the-cassini-mission/100653/">photographs</a>, explore the <a href="http://www.universetoday.com/98008/timeline-15-years-of-cassini/">timeline of its exploration</a> and <a href="http://marvel.wikia.com/Saturn">marvel</a> at <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2010/04/20/science/space/20cassini_graphic.html?ref=space">the complex orbital mechanics</a> that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/science/space/20cassini.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">keep Cassini flying</a> in Saturn's system with a tiny fuel supply. tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.140375Tue, 01 Jul 2014 06:58:29 -0800Brandon BlatcherThe Apollo 11 flight planhttp://www.metafilter.com/140330/The%2DApollo%2D11%2Dflight%2Dplan
Presented for your enjoyment and perusal: <a href="http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/a11final-fltpln.pdf">the Apollo 11 Flight Plan</a>, and other fun reading material. The <a href="http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/">Apollo 11 Lunar Surface Journal</a> appears to have bitrotted somewhat, but hidden highlights include the <a href="http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/a11/A11CSD.pdf">Apollo 11 Post-Flight Report on Suits, PLSSs, etc.</a>, which describes how well equipment actually worked (worth it for reports in "earth pounds"), and the <a href="http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/nasa58040.pdf">Apollo Lunar Descent and Ascent Trajectories</a>, which documents "Planning and post-flight analysis for Apollo 11". tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.140330Sun, 29 Jun 2014 12:40:25 -0800TheNewWazooOne small alarm for a spacecraft, one giant mission for mankindhttp://www.metafilter.com/135865/One%2Dsmall%2Dalarm%2Dfor%2Da%2Dspacecraft%2Done%2Dgiant%2Dmission%2Dfor%2Dmankind
The <a href="http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/The_Rosetta_orbiter">Rosetta spacecraft</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqcDtRmJbKY">just woke up</a> after a 32 month nap, some 500 million miles from Earth (<a href="http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/01/19/where-in-heck-is-rosetta/">interactive location tool</a>) in preparation for its encounter with <a href="http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Rosetta/Comet_67P_Churyumov-Gerasimenko">comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko</a>. Rosetta will enter orbit around the comet in May of this year, map it and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzfJlXHiagw">then drop off a little lander</a> named <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philae_(spacecraft)">Philae</a> in November, which will be the first manmade craft to soft land on a comet. Once anchored, the Philae will study how the composition of a comment changes as it approaches the Sun.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siu2sxQ4YWI">An animation of the mission can be seen here.</a> tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.135865Tue, 21 Jan 2014 11:09:12 -0800Brandon BlatcherWe've planned too many wonders for one little starhttp://www.metafilter.com/135377/Weve%2Dplanned%2Dtoo%2Dmany%2Dwonders%2Dfor%2Done%2Dlittle%2Dstar
<blockquote>
"In '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_ZBwXsIrkU#t=0m41s">Somebody Will</a>' I wanted to get across why I see sci-fi and fantasy fandom as a more positive, productive world than many of the hobbies and communities common in our culture. [...] The hardest part of <a href="http://www.sassafrassmusic.com/songs/sci-fi-fantasy-fandom/somebody-will/">the piece</a> is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCfRHtf-vPI">singing it to the end</a> without crying."
</blockquote> <a href="http://www.sassafrassmusic.com">Sassafrass</a> is an a capella <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filk_music">filk</a> group that performs <a href="http://sassafrass.bandcamp.com/album/sundown-preview">ambitious, nerdy choral music</a>. tag:metafilter.com,2014:site.135377Mon, 06 Jan 2014 08:34:47 -0800Sokka shot firstLooking out the window while landing on the moonhttp://www.metafilter.com/133083/Looking%2Dout%2Dthe%2Dwindow%2Dwhile%2Dlanding%2Don%2Dthe%2Dmoon
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrKHtXxYlkk&noredirect=1">Simultaneous video and selectively played audio of every Apollo lunar landing on one screen</a>. (<a href="http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum29/HTML/001515.html">via Collect Space</a>) The video was captured by the <a href="http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A19720962000">Data Acquisition Camera (DAC)</a>, which was pointed out of the <a href="http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum29/HTML/001102.html">Lunar Module Pilot's</a> window. It was one of <a href="http://www.myspacemuseum.com/apollocams.htm">several cameras</a> used to capture <a href="http://www.apolloarchive.com/apollo_gallery.html">images of the Apollo program</a> tag:metafilter.com,2013:site.133083Tue, 22 Oct 2013 06:42:22 -0800Brandon Blatcher